Key Terms Related to Assemblies PDF

Key Terms Related to Assemblies: Chair: The presiding officer in a meeting or assembly. Floor: The right of a member to speak; also refers to the assembly itself during a meeting. Table: A metaphorical place where a topic is postponed for future consideration ("lay on the table")...

Key Terms Related to Assemblies: Chair: The presiding officer in a meeting or assembly. Floor: The right of a member to speak; also refers to the assembly itself during a meeting. Table: A metaphorical place where a topic is postponed for future consideration ("lay on the table"). Gavel: A tool used by the chair to maintain order or signal decisions. Different taps signify different actions. Committee: A group appointed to handle specific matters. Proponent: A person who introduces a motion. Majority: The larger portion of a group whose decisions prevail. Minority: The smaller portion of a group that cannot control decisions. Key Terms Related to Meetings: Meeting: A gathering where members deliberate and conduct business. Regular Meeting: Scheduled meetings outlined in an organization’s bylaws. Special Meeting: A meeting called for specific, urgent matters. Session: A series of meetings that conclude once adjourned indefinitely. Agenda: The list of items to be discussed during the meeting. Order of Business: The sequence in which items on the agenda are discussed. Quorum: The minimum number of members required to be present for a valid meeting. Adjourn: To officially close a meeting. Recess: A short break during a meeting. Minutes: The official record of the meeting’s proceedings. Terms Related to Discussions, Actions, and Motions: Motion: A formal proposal presented to the assembly for decision.  Resolution: A formal motion, often in written form. Debate: Discussion about a motion or question before the assembly. Pending Motion: A motion that has not yet been resolved. Point of Order: A request to address a procedural error during the meeting. Second: A signal of support for a motion to allow further discussion or voting. Terms Related to Voting: Ballot Vote: A written, secret vote. Majority Vote: More than half of the votes cast. Plurality Vote: The largest number of votes when there are more than two options. Two-Thirds Vote: A vote requiring two-thirds of the cast votes for approval. Tie Vote: Equal votes on both sides, often requiring the chair to break the tie. Terms Related to Governing Documents: Articles of Incorporation: A legal document outlining the organization’s rights and agreements. Bylaws: The basic rules governing an organization. Charter: A document from a parent organization allowing a local group to operate. Rules of Order: Written procedures for conducting meetings. Standing Rules: Temporary or semi-permanent administrative rules that can be adopted or changed as needed. Characteristics of Motions 1. Whether a Motion is in Order When Someone Has the Floor This refers to whether a motion can interrupt a speaker. Most motions cannot interrupt a speaker once they have the floor, except in cases of urgency or when addressing privileges or rights. ○ Motions that can interrupt: Question of privilege Point of order Point of parliamentary inquiry Point of information Reconsideration Objection to consideration of a motion Appeal from the decision of the chair Call for orders of the day 2. Whether a Motion Requires a Second Seconding a motion indicates another member supports the discussion. Most motions require a second, but some motions that involve demands or requests (e.g., Division of the assembly, Point of order) or assert rights or privileges (e.g., Call for orders of the day, Objection to consideration) do not. 3. Whether the Motion is Debatable Debatable motions are open to discussion and fall into two categories: ○ Full debate: The motion can be debated in all its aspects. ○ Limited debate: Only specific aspects are debatable.  ○ Debatable motions include: Main motion Amendment to a fully debatable motion Motion to postpone indefinitely Motion to appeal (unless applied to a non-debatable question) 4. Whether the Motion Can Be Amended Amendable motions are those that can be modified. Fully amendable motions include: ○ Main motions ○ Motion to amend Partially amendable motions include: ○ Fix the time to adjourn (only duration, effectivity, and place can be changed) ○ Postpone definitely (only duration of postponement can be amended) ○ Refer to committee (only the type of committee or instructions can be amended) 5. The Vote Required for a Motion Most motions require a majority vote, but certain motions, which override parliamentary rules or affect members' rights, require a two-thirds vote. ○ Motions requiring two-thirds vote: Call for the previous question Modify limits of debate Suspend the rules Object to consideration of a motion Amend rules of the organization 6. The Order of the Motion’s Precedence Precedence determines the ranking of motions. A higher-ranking motion can be proposed even when a lower-ranking one is pending. ○ Example: If a motion to adjourn (high rank) is proposed while a main motion (lower rank) is being discussed, the adjournment motion takes precedence. 7. To What Other Motions the Motion Can Apply Some motions are applicable to others based on their purpose. ○ Main motions cannot apply to other motions. ○ Subsidiary motions can apply to main motions, but not to privileged or incidental motions. ○ Privileged motions do not apply to other motions. 8. What Motions May Apply to the Motion Certain motions can be applied to other motions to modify, refer, or limit discussion. ○ Examples: Motions to amend can be applied to main motions. Motions to refer to a committee can only be applied to main motions and amendments. Postponement and objection to consideration apply only to main motions.  Appeal from the chair’s decision can be applied to any decision made by the chair. 9. Whether the Motion Can Be Renewed Once a motion is lost, it generally cannot be renewed in the same meeting unless there has been a substantial change in circumstances. ○ Renewable motions include procedural ones like adjournment. ○ Non-renewable motions: A lost main motion cannot be renewed during the same session.